Career Kickstarter: Trading 2026

Want to accelerate your path from student to full-time trader?

Career Kickstarter: Trading is an immersive five-day program at Optiver’s Amsterdam office, offering final-year students at European Universities a direct pathway to a career in trading.

Over the course of one week, you’ll experience a real-world trading environment, moving from options theory to developing highly relevant practical industry skills. Through a blend of interactive lectures, trading games, and expert mentorship, you’ll learn how to think—and act—like a trader.

If you prove to be a good match for our Graduate Trader role, you may receive a full-time job offer once the program is complete.

Apply below and take the first step towards accelerating your career in trading.

• When: 2 – 6 March or 9 – 13 March 2026
  Please indicate your preferred program date in the application form below. Check both boxes if you’re available for both dates, but please note that you will only be able to attend one.
• Where: Optiver Amsterdam Headquarters
• Applications close on December 1st 2025.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Learning and skill development:

• Explore options theory: Delve deeper into our operations through interactive lectures on the fundamentals of options theory.
• Learn about trading strategies: Discover how data, reports, and proposals drive the development of impactful new trading strategies.
• Design a trading algorithm: Gain hands-on experience designing and testing your own trading algorithm.
• Engage in trading games: Participate in fast-paced games that mimic real-world trading scenarios, helping sharpen your instincts and decision-making skills under pressure.

Networking and culture:

• Get to know Optiver’s culture: Get a taste of Optiver’s incredible culture and enjoy our perks and benefits, including daily breakfast, lunch, coffee, and more.
• Build your network: Enjoy networking events with Traders, Quantitative Researchers, and Recruiters.
• Receive expert mentorship: Benefit from the guidance and support of our renowned Trading Education Team.
• Hotel & travel: You’ll benefit from fully expensed travel and hotel accommodation in Amsterdam on your chosen program dates.

ELIGIBILITY

• BSc or MSc student graduating from a university in Europe between May 2025 – February 2027
• Currently situated in the Netherlands, UK or Europe
• All Econometrics and STEM degree backgrounds are considered
• You are able to demonstrate at the time of application that you have the requisite visa or other travel authorisations in place in order to allow you to attend the program in person.

WHO YOU ARE

• Excellent numerical and analytical skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, developed through STEM degrees such as Econometrics
• Fast decision-making skills under pressure
• Competitive attitude and an eagerness to constantly improve yourself
• Fluent communication skills in English
• Excellent attention to detail
• Programming skills are not required, but definitely desirable

APPLY NOW

Does this sound like the future you’re looking for? Apply now by submitting your CV and take the first step towards your trading career.

Please note that this application process consists of two stages: an online assessment, and a technical interview. You will receive the online assessment after our applications close in the first weeks of December, and the interviews will follow in January.

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For answers to some of our most frequently asked questions, refer to our .

For applicants based in India, our entry route is via the placement office internship hiring season (July/August).

*We accept one application per role per year. If you have previously applied to this position during this season and have been unsuccessful, you can reapply once the next recruitment season begins in 2026.